New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-24
A QUESTION OF LOYALTY.

The Administration comes to grief, because
| il is what il u.s. Its master thought, from the
beginning TO this day. has been that the Demo
cratic ma iority in Southern States was in every
respect as worthy Of trust and Of power and in
tho highest sense as loyal as the people oil
Northern States by whom the Union was MAN.
tanned On that theory were made President
Cleveland's selections of officials. On that
theory came the proposed return of Rebel flags.
This theory is false. Those Of the Northern
people who did not know the fact before have
been made to know it by the conduct of the
Democratic party at the South; by the careful
selection Of the most offensive Rebels for
especial honors by the Southern managers by
the uttcranccs of Jefferson Davis and most OF
the Southern Democratic journals by the con-
tnuing disregard and notification OF laws
meant 10 secure freedom of elections. Loyalty
means faithful obedience to law The Southern
States would not obey law in 1861 and the
result was war. The same states contfollcu
lars civ through fraud by men OF the same
stamp, do not obey the laws now. and the result
is systematic and habiual honorng OF Kcbci
LEADERS, and Rebel ideas in al The political acuoh
of the controlling element in that section. ms
disloyal spirit is hated as intensely by citizens
who hold laws sacred as it was in 1861. Inc
men whose boast it is that they broke the law
and rcbelled twenty-five years ago, and VINO
climb to high Office now by breaking the law
shape the entire policy of this Administration
II was the Administration theory that the
Democratic success in 1854 camo because the
loval spirit had broken down because hostility
to lawbreaking and lawbrcakels had faded away
in Northern States: because it was safe and
profitable to sneer at "loyal screechers and
abloodv.shirt Senator'S and because the effect
Of these sncers was seen in the defeat OF Ike
oublicans The Administration really believed
THAI loyalty-gcnuine and hearty regard for law
and hostility to lawbrcakers-had faded out IN
Northern States and it therefore deliberately
chose the policy it has pursued. Its dceds per
fectlv illustrated It's spirit, which, put into few
words is that Rebel of the past and law
breaker of the present is in all respects as worthy
of trust or honor as any loyal man. and far
more worthy if the loyal man happens to be
not Democrat.
II is this theory. in its plain manifestation.
which has llindlcd loyal Indignation throughout
the country For there arc hosts OF Democrats
who have refused to believe that the ruling
spirit of their party was still disloyal, law
defying, treason-honoring and essentially rebel
Iious. They are learning daily. There were
many independents who had convinced them
selves that "thc South was as loyal as any other
part of the country" and so il is beyond doubt
if loyalty means only readiness to uphold
government which YOU can shape to suit your
self, and Willingness to obey laws which you
like. In that sense the South was very loyal
in 1861. These self-deceived independents are
learning. The whole people is getting its eyes
opened to the fact that loyalty means sincere
respect and hearty obedience for law, and that
men who honor rebcllism in the past and uphold
and reward vote-stealing in the present are not
loyal men, have no claim to be trusted by law
abiding citizens, and arc of necessity and be-
cause of their very nature and dominant spirit
the worst enemies that self government CAP
have Next year we shall see whether genuine
loyalty is dead, as the Administration has sup
posed